Overview of Updated Requirements
Starting July 1, 2025, new category-specific requirements will apply to marketing apps in the Built for Shopify (BFS) program. These changes are designed to enhance app quality, improve the merchant experience, and ensure apps meet Shopify's ever-evolving standards.
Which App Categories Are Affected?
The new requirements will affect several categories of apps. Below is a breakdown of the changes:
- Ads Apps: All criteria are mandatory.
- Affiliate Program Apps: All criteria are mandatory.
- Analytics Apps: All criteria are mandatory.
- Email Marketing Apps: Select criteria apply based on the app's functionality.
- Forms Apps: All criteria are mandatory.
- SMS Marketing Apps: Select criteria apply based on the app's functionality.
- Subscription Apps: Customer Account UI extensions are now a mandatory requirement.
When and How Will Compliance Be Enforced?
The updated requirements will be enforced during manual reviews of apps. These reviews occur both when you initially submit your app as well as during annual reviews. Non-compliant apps may face delays or additional requirements during the review process.
Where Can You Find More Information?
A comprehensive breakdown of these new standards can be found in Shopify's developer documentation. Merchants and developers are encouraged to review these resources for full details on expectations and implementation.